WHY THE CIVIL DISCOURSE FOUNDATION?
“Because I have a need. There are many issues that I have opinions on but I know that those opinions are not necessarily grounded in a true understanding of the topic. Health care reform, immigration policy, tax reform, universal income, freedom of speech, gun control. That is just a partial list of the issues that I have a hunger to learn more about. But the current sources and venues available do not meet my need. I believe that civil discourse is what is missing.”
– Jim Cowles, Founder
Stay tuned for our first podcast
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WHAT IS CIVIL DISCOURSE?
It’s not a US Presidential debate. It’s not a session in the House of Commons. It’s not a talk show found on Fox News, CNN, or MSNBC. The collection of all of that is the modern day equivalent of the Tower of Babel. People talking but not listening, ‘preaching’ but not learning, dividing not coalescing.
It’s also not a debate found in a high school classroom or a college campus. That’s a forum where opposing sides only listen to the other side for the purpose of rebuttal, where the objective is to ‘win’ the argument.
Civil discourse is a conversation.
It’s a conversation about an issue where participants listen to, respect, and are open to learning from those who have different or new views. It’s a conversation where people learn, opinions evolve, attitudes expand, insights are gained and as a result, maybe, just maybe common ground is discovered and solutions appear.
WHAT ARE CIVIL DISCOURSE VALUES?
“One needs to be able to believe passionately and also be able to see the absurdity of one’s own beliefs and laugh at them.”
– Philosopher Lyman Tower Sargent
Our first podcast will be released shortly. Stay tuned.